Wall construction



March 31, 1942. F. M, SMALL WALL CONSTRUCTION '2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April s, 1939 arch 3l, 1942. F. M. SMALL 2,277,793

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed' April 8, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 35 Syvum/Hoz Patented Mar. 3l, 1942 WALL ooNsrnUcrIoN Frederick M. Small, York, Pa., assigner to Martin-Parry Corporation, York, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April B, 1939, Serial No. 266,891

(Cl. 18S-34) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a wall construction for buildings and more particularly to the structure of studs and the like for forming partitions.

An object of the invention is to provide a wall construction particularly suitable for non-bearing partitions so that such partitions can be eX- peditiously installed or removed.

Another object of the invention is Vto provide a wall supporting member such asa stud or furring strip which can be installed, without employing the usual fastening means such as screws or nails, to secure a wall supporting structure to the interior surfaces of a room.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall supporting member, such as a stud or furring strip, which is mounted in compression between the ceiling and floor of a room so as to be secured therein.

'A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a stud or furring strip which can be installed Without the usual fasteningdevices and to which wall panels may be easily attached for forming the interior surface of the room. f

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wall supporting member such as a stud or furring strip with adjustable structure for placing the member in compression between the floor and ceiling of a room so as to retain the member in place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the attached drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the lower portion of a wall stud taken on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the stud taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing panels attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of a stud in accordance with the present invention showing panels attached thereto;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a furring strip embodying the present invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the stud shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of a locking plate;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the plate of Fig. '7, and

Figure 9 is a View in elevation of a combined locking plate and panel supporting member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the stud body I0, a stud guiding and bearing plate member shown generally at II, an expansion member or jack I2, yand a locking plate I3. A preferred form of stud is formed of thin sheet metal `and has the cross section shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the stud body is provided with channels I4 on all four sides thereof and that these channels have portions I5 of the stud body partly closing the channel to retain the eX- pansion member I2 or panel clip plates I6 as will be hereinafter described. The bottom portions of the channels I4 are provided with depressions I'I to receive projections I8 upon the locking plate I3 and as will be later described the cooperating depressions I'I and projections I8 enable the initial position of the expansion member I2 to be varied so as to properly position the expansion member.

The stud guiding and bearing plate I I includes a bottom plate I9 to which is secured, as by welding or otherwise, anupstanding sleeve member 20 which is inserted within the stud body III. The sleeve 2U contacts all four interior surfaces of the stud so as to prevent horizontal shifting of the stud relative to the bearing plate I9 in any direction. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the depressions II in the bottom of the channels I 4 result in projections 2| on the interior of the stud body and these projections bear against the sleeve 20. It is apparent that, if other means are employed to secure the expansion member I2 and the panels to the stud, these depressions I1 and the resulting projections 2| may be eliminated` and the sleeve allowed to contact directly with the interior surfaces of the stud. The bearing plate I9 is provided with an upstanding annular member 22'adjacent one side of the sleeve 20 upon which is mounted a bushing 23 to slidably receive a threaded portion 24 forming apart of the eXpansion member I2. A nut 25 screw threaded upon the threaded portion 24 bears upon the bushing 23 so that rotation of the nut 25 raises or lowers the expansion member I2. As shown in Fig. 3 the upper endof the expansion member I2 is formed into a plate-like member 26 which is of greater lateral dimension than the opening of the channel I4 so as to be retained in the channel by the overlying portions I5 of the stud. The plate-like portion 26 is of less thickness than the depth of the channel I4 throughout the major portion of its area and has a shoulder 2I provided upon the interior surface thereof for engaging the lower portion of the locking plate I3.

The expansion member I2 is secured to the the stud structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 includes 55- Stud by TSI? inserting the locking plate I3, The

plate I3 is of less lateral dimension than the opening in the channel I4 as shown in Fig. 2 and may be inserted through the opening in the channel so that the projections I8 thereupon register with the depressions I'I in the bottom of the channel. The depressions II and the projections I8 are so arranged that the locking plate I3 may be shifted laterally as Well as vertically and in the specific embodiment shown the locking plate I3 may have three lateral positions. Thus the projections I8 may register with the columns of depressions I'I, which are indicated at A, in one position or may be shifted laterally to register with the columns of depressions indicated at B or those indicated at C. The depressions of the columns B are slightly above those in A and those of C are slightly above those of B so that lateral shifting of the locking plate I3 also shifts the plate vertically by a slight increment. By this structure small vertical adjustments of the plate I3 can be made. After the plate I3 has been placed in the desired position the flat portion of the expansion member I2 is slipped upwardly within the channel I4 from the bottom end of the stud until the shoulder 2'I abuts against the lower edge of the plate I3. The upper portion 2S of the expansion member I2 cooperates with the locking plate I3 to hold the projections of the latter within the depressions II and thus the expansion member I2 is locked against vertical movement relative to the stud.

Preferably the bearing plate I9 rests upon a fibrous cushion member 28 positioned upon the floor of the room and the upper end of the stud is preferably provided with a suitable bearing plate and cushioning member (not shown) positioned against the ceiling of the room. By turning the nut the stud may be placed in compression between the ceiling and floor of the room to retain the stud xedly in position. Spacing members 29 preferably extend between the adjacent studs of a wall and interlock with the bearing plate I9 as shown at 30. A similar structure may be employed for the ceiling of the room so that the studs are uniformly and correctly spaced for the reception of panels or other wall structures. If desired the bearing plates I9 and spacing members 29 may be secured to the oor by screws or other fastening means extending through the aligned apertures 3I and 32 in the bearing plate and spacing members respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2, the channels I4 may be employed in the securing of panels 33. The locking plate I3 is positioned in a channel I4 in exactly the same manner as described for the attachment of the expansion member I2. A clip plate I6 provided with panel attaching lugs 34 and clip plate positioning lugs is then positioned in the channel to hold the projections I8 of the locking plate I3 in the depressions I'I. Such a clip plate I6 is shown in Fig. 3 above the expansion member I2 and it will be noted that the diagonal dimension of the clip plate is less than the width of the opening of the channel I4 so that the clip plate may be inserted through this opening and then turned approximately in either direction to lock the same behind the portions I5 of the stud body overlying the channel. The panels 33 may be formed with channels 36 to resiliently receive the lugs 34 in order to attach the panels to the stud.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9 a locking plate 31 similar to the locking plate I3 may be employed to give the panels 33 vertical support. The locking plate 31 is provided with a horizontal extending portion 38 positioned below the lower end of the panel 33 to support the same. Also the locking plate 3'I may be provided with an intermediate lug 39 for supporting the panel clip plate I6 in which event the lugs 35 of the clip plate shown in Fig. 2 may be omitted.

An expansion structure similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be employed to secure a furring strip 40 shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 against a wall III. Such furring strips 4I) are held in compression between the floor and ceiling of a room in exactly the same manner as the studs hereinbefore described. A preferred furring strip may be made of thin sheet metal rolled into a configuration similar to that shown in cross section in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the furring strip is provided with a channel I4 provided with depressions II. The channel I4 receives a locking plate I3 having projections I8 and an expansion member I2 in the same manner as the channel I4 of the stud I0. A bearing plate 42 provided with an upstanding annular portion 22 to receive a bushing 23 forms the base support of the furring strip and preferably rests upon a cushioning member 43, A suitable bearing plate and cushioning member (not shown) may also be provided for the upper end of the furring strip and rotation of the nut 25 places the furring strip in compression between the ceiling and floor of the room. In many cases it has been found desirable to bow or deform the furring strip 40 so that the middle portion thereof is pressed tightly against the Wall 4I when the ends of the furring strip are held adjacent the wall on the licor and ceiling. The channel I4 of the furring strip is also employed for attaching panels or other wall surfacing ma terial in the same manner as the channels I4 of the stud I0 shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The present invention provides either a stud or furring strip which may be formed of thin sheet metal and which may be installed in a building without breaking the surface of the oor, ceiling or wall nishes and without the usual fastening means such as screws or nails.

The cross sectional configuration of either the stud or furring strip provides for extremely high mechanical strength even though very thin sheet metal is employed and the overall dimensions of the members in the horizontal plane are likewise very small. The studs or furring strips provide for easily attaching panels or other surface structure thereto and also for supporting the lower edges of such panel structures in the case of uneven floors. It is apparent that molding members (not shown) may be employed to conceal the joint between the panel structure and the floors and that these moldings may be secured to the bearing plates at the ends of the studs or furrng strips so that a complete room finishing structure may be carried by the studs and furring strips.

The invention is particularly useful for renishing the walls of rooms and for installing partitions such as those used in subdividing oce buildings, but may also be used for new construction. The structures described do not destroy the existing nishing surfaces of rooms in which they are installed. They are easily and quickly installed and removed, and partitions formed thereby can be readily moved.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details thereof but may be varied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A building frame element adapted to be mounted between spaced supports said element comprising an elongated frame member provided with an undercut channel along at least one side thereof, a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable longitudinally of said frame member, an expansion member for moving said bearing member having a portion insertable Within said channel, and means for securing said expansion member against longitudinal movement in said channel, said means comprising depressions in the bottom of said channel and a locking plate having projections registering with said depressions.

2. A building frame element adapted to .be mounted between spaced supports, said element comprising an elongated frame member provided with an undercut channel along at least one side thereof, a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable longitudinally of said frame member, an expansion member for moving said bearing member having a portion insertable Within said channel, and means for securing said expansion member against longitudinal movement in said channel including a locking plate engaging said insertable portion and said channel, depressions provided on one of said locking plate or channel and intertting projections provided on the other.

3. A building frame element for supporting panels forming a wall and adapted to be mounted between spaced supports, said frame element comprising a frame member having channels extending longitudinally of the sides thereof and a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable longitudinally of said frame member, .panel attaching means adjustably secured in at least one of said channels, and means adjustably secured in one of said channels for causing relative movement between the bearing member and the frame member whereby to increase the length of said frame element.

4. A building frame element for supporting panels forming a wall and adapted to be mounted between spaced supports, said frame element comprising a frame member having channels extending longitudinally of the sides thereof and a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable longitudinally of said frame member, panel attaching means a-djustably secured in at least one of said channels, and an expansion member having a portion insertable within one of said channels for causing relative movement between the bearing member and the frame member whereby to increase the length of said frame element.

5. A building frame element for supporting panels forming a wall and adapted to .be mounted between spaced supports, said frame element comprising a frame member having channels extending longitudinally of the sides thereof and a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable longitudinally of said frame member, panel attaching means adjustably secured in at least one of said channels, an expansion member having a portion insertable within one of said channels for causing relative movement between the bearing member and the frame member whereby to increase the length of said frame element, said expansion member in- -cluding a locking member in engagement with said insertable portion and with said last mentioned channel for securing the expansion member against longitudinal movement in the channel.

6. A building frame element for supporting panels forming a Wall and adapted to be mounted between spaced supports, said frame element comprising a frame member having channels extending longitudinally of the sides thereof and a bearing member for one end of said frame member and relatively movable-longitudinally of said frame member, panel attaching means adjustably secured in at least one of said channels, and expansion means disposed exterorly of said frame member and having a portion adjustably secured in another of said channels for causing relative movement between the .bearing member and the frame member whereby to increase the length of said frame element.

FREDERICK M. SMALL. 

